Relationships

Navigate your relationships.

This page is dedicated to helping you navigate all the different types of relationships in your life. If you are dating, this page can direct you to resources on maintaining a healthy relationship. If you are in an abusive relationship or unsure whether your relationship is healthy, you can also find domestic violence shelters, and online resources covering whatever questions you may have. Parenting teens can click here to find supportive organizations and educational articles. You can also access information about your reproductive health, the LGBT community, and friendships.

Colors LGBT Counseling

Colors LGBTQ Youth Counseling Services provides free LGBTQ-affirmative counseling and healing psychotherapeutic services to youth under 25 and their families in greater Los Angeles. Their resource page also features many Los Angeles and online organizations for additional support for LGBT youth.

Teen Addiction - How Can I Help My Child?

Approximately 2 million U.S. teens between the ages of 12 and 17 currently qualify as needing help for a substance problem. Tragically, less than 10% get the help they need. At the Recovery Village, we are dedicated to helping those struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders into recovery. This page provides valuable resources for parents to understand teen addiction and how to support them.

How to Support a Friend or Loved One Who Has Been Sexually Abused

If you know a friend or loved one is dealing with the aftermath of sexual abuse, this New York Times article can help you support them. As the article says, “If you’re not a survivor yourself but you’re close to one — maybe a partner, friend or family member — you may not be able to fully understand what they’re going through, and you may feel confused or lost about how to best support them. Here’s what you need to know, and how you can be supportive.”

The Thing No One Talks About: Loneliness and How to Deal

This article by Julia Rubin discusses the loneliness, a struggle many deal with silently. She writes, “The whole "it gets better" mantra can be annoying, because don't you want to feel better now? But like a whole lot of other challenges you face, things really do improve with a little bit of time.”

For Expectant Parents Considering Adoption

If you are deciding whether adoption is right for you, this guide from the Child Welfare Information Gateway can help you make an informed choice. It covers topics such as the birth father’s role in the process, the impact of adoption, and will link you to many other helpful resources on the topic.

Three Different Teen Dads from Three Different Generations

These interviews with former and current teen dads offers advice and insights into becoming a father at a young age. “. Each of them talks about the immediate days, weeks and months following their child’s birth, but also how the passage of time — measured in decades for two of them — has changed their perspective on being a teen dad.”

Living With a Stepparent

Getting a new stepparent can be a huge change, and you may have questions about what the adjustment will be like. This article covers key FAQs like “What if I don’t like my stepparent?” or “Does a stepparent replace my biological parent?”

Breastfeeding Your Baby

Breastfeeding is called nature’s miracle food, and there can be a lot of pressure on new moms to do it without adequate information on how it works. New moms also sometimes feel shame for struggling with breastfeeding. This informative site can guide you through the process and help you find more resources if you need additional help.

It Gets Better Project

The It Gets Better campaign is a collection of video submissions from LGBT adults from around the world. The campaign shows both the struggles and triumphs that members of the community have faced and urges young ones to remain hopeful. Over 60,000 people have shared their stories with this project, showcasing the diversity of LGBT experiences.

PFLAG

This organization supports friends and families of LGBT individuals in educating themselves and serving as better allies. They offer support groups, advocate for LGBT equality, and much more. Take a look at their website to see which services are offered near you.

How To Let Go of Your First Love

Your first heartbreak can make you feel like your world is crumbling. This helpful blog by Riva Billows talks about how you can overcome heartbreak and “why it’ll make you stronger and wiser than before”.

Omar’s Story on School and Friendship

Omar’s story shows the difficulties that many youth face in trying to make friends in a new school. The loneliness he experienced affected his perceptions of others and he began to grow bitter. Read here how he opened himself up to new connections and gained friends.

Two Countries, Three Schools, and New Friends

In this blog post, Elias Roessler shares his experience trying to make new friends after moving to a new country. Though he struggled at first, he’s come to find like-minded people and feel confident in his ability to make new friends.

Project Fatherhood

As a subset of the Childrens Institute, Project Fatherhood helps men of all backgrounds embrace fatherhood and learn to become the best parents they can be. In addition to parenting classes, the center also hosts support groups for men to discuss their relationship issues with their peers, individual/family counseling, and therapeutic activities for children. This organization has locations in Long Beach, Mid-Wilshire, Watts, Torrance, Monterey Park, and Downtown LA.

Friends of the Family

This organization is dedicated to maintaining healthy family relationships. Services include family development groups for young parents, parenting education, and case management. The center also has a full calendar of family activities all day long, everyday. These free activities include family yoga, children’s Spanish classes, children’s guitar lessons (instruments provided), painting, homework help, and weight loss programs.

Didi Hirsch

Didi Hirsch is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment agency with options for all ages. For homeless mothers and children, they offer a residential program with relapse prevention, physical health care, family bonding activities, and a path to permanent housing within 6 months.

Raising Them Right

This site displays Amanda can Scoyoc’s year-long art project documenting the lives of thirty teen moms in Boston. The photos, interviews, and self-portraits of each woman shows the reality of young motherhood, in both its challenges and beauty. When the artist asked one of the participants what makes a parent, she replied, “Everything you do for your child and the way you love them. It doesn’t matter if you are old, young, middle aged; a mom is a mom.” This project shows the strength, love, and dedication of young mothers.

International Institute of Child Development

This comprehensive social service agency works to help families and individuals become self-sufficient. It caters specifically to immigrants, refugees, and low-income people. This organization can help you secure childcare, attend parenting workshops, and provides some cash aid They also offer transportation vouchers and immigration legal aid.

CCRC Childcare Assistance

If you need help paying for childcare, this organization provides vouchers that can be used for independent babysitters of daycare facilities. They also link so a list of other childcare assistant programs which have their own requirements based on age and income.

Pathways LA

Pathways LA helps parents who are looking for work, in school, or in need of housing afford childcare and access other parenting resources. Eligible parents can choose to enroll their child in after school programs, parks and recreation programs, and summer programs for free or at a reduced cost. The program even can arrange to have a friend or family member receive pay for watching your child.

Project NATEEN

The Children’s Hospital of LA offers many free services for parenting teens through Project NATEEN. You can check out their website to find out how to receive free health education, counseling, housing benefits, vocational training, and an on-site high school independent study program. https://www.chla.org/nateen

Generation HER

Generation HER is a non-profit supporting young mothers ages 13-23 with weekly mentorship and life skills support classes. They can provide you with transportation to their organization where you can receive free baby supplies, childcare, workshops, and community with others in your same situation.

Families Change

This teen guide to parental separation and divorce can provide support for you and your friends. It covers dealing with a stressful home life including abuse, managing your emotions, and coping with life changes. Its FAQ can help you find answers to questions like, “I’m feeling guilty about my family splitting up. Was there something I did to cause it?”

LA LGBT CENTER

The LA LGBT Center’s support groups are a safe space for meeting people dealing with similar issues and building strong bonds. Support groups are focused on recovery, as well as coming out. The Center also offers housing support, medical care, educational services, and more.

Trans Lifeline

This national organization is ran by trans people and dedicated to supporting trans people of all ages. A peer support hotline is open from 7am-1am PST, available to support you through crisis or just give you someone to talk to. They also offer microgrants to help you through processes such as changing your legal name.

Bisexual Resource Center

Are you bisexual, pansexual, queer or questioning? The Bisexual Resource Center website has testimonials, information about sexuality, and advice on coming out. It is a place to help you explore your identity on your terms.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

You can call 1-800-799-7233 at any time for a free, anonymous domestic violence helpline. If unable to speak freely, thehotline.org also offers an online discreet chat service with a an advocate. Continuing to navigate their website, you will find information about both healthy and unhealthy/violent relationships. You can also read information about involving the police, dealing with firearm threats, and read the stories of survivors.

Advocates for Youth

This organization is in DC but their website has many resources that can be accessed from anywhere. They use storytelling to address many pressing issues youth face in the area of reproductive health. For example, an initiative to get people of all ages around the country to share their abortion story. They also have resources supporting those with HIV diagnoses, LGBT identity, and those navigating relationships as young people.

Scarleteen

Scarleteen calls itself “sex ed for the real world: inclusive, comprehensive, supportive sexuality and relationships info for teens and emerging adults.” The online resource is aimed at teens to learn about their bodies and health. It is a place to get the answers to questions you might be too embarrassed to ask someone in real life. There is a one-on-one live chat with trained volunteers, extensive articles and a forum to talk with others going through the same adolescent issues.

Love Is Respect

Love is Respect is a comprehensive relationships resource for all ages. Not only will it help you navigate healthy relationships, it can teach you how to recognize the signs of unhealthy ones and what to do from there.

This site can help you explore your thoughts if you have questions such as:

Domestic Violence Shelter Directory

Domesticshelters.org is an in depth nationwide directory of domestic violence shelters. This site doesn’t just provide addresses, it summarizes all the services available at each location and rates them based on helpfulness. The website also provides lists of support groups for men and women, extensive articles on topics from what to do with your pet when you’re trying to flee to useful smartphone apps. If you or someone you know is currently experiencing domestic violence, this site is a well rounded online refuge with many resources.

Break The Cycle

This online resource, “ inspires and supports young people 12 - 24 to build healthy relationships and create a culture without abuse.” It works towards this with healthy relationship quizzes, information about dating violence, trainings on preventing violence, and free legal services to youth in need.

Directory - Los Angeles dating violence resources for teens

This site offers many resources for youth looking for a detailed directory of organizations in their area. The dating violence section is very thorough and will point you to trauma counseling centers, hotlines, shelters, and sensitive medical providers.

Valley Oasis (Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council)

Valley Oasis is a Lancaster domestic violence shelter which provides services to men, women and children and welcomes people of all sexualities and cultural backgrounds. In addition to emergency housing, this organization offers counseling services, case management, and individualized service plans. They may also be able to offer utility bill assistance.

Peace over Violence

Peace over Violence is an active organization throughout LA and the San Gabriel valley. It provides traveling speakers who have survived domestic violence, a hotline, case management, support groups, and accompaniment to the hospital, police station and courthouse. They also make sure to provide services specifically for those who are deaf, disabled, or elderly.

I Was A Promiscuous Teen: An Open Letter to All the Men From My Past

In this powerful letter, artist Marigny Goodyear speaks candidly to the men who took advantage of her throughout her life. As a young teen, Goodyear’s heavy use of drugs and alcohol left her vulnerable to older men with bad intentions. Now an adult, she uses her experiences to emphasize the importance of consent and talking openly about the relationship between sex and power.

My Life, My Rights

This website for foster youth lays out advice in relationships, educational planning, employment, and independent living. It answers frequently asked questions in each of these categories, with detailed answers and links to resources. Questions about your reproductive health? Want to know your rights as a foster youth? This website can help.

Black Women for Wellness

Get Smart B4 U Get Sexy is a comprehensive youth sex education program put on by Black Women for Wellness, a South LA nonprofit. The main demographics it serves are those who are African American female, part of the foster care system, or at high risk for sexually transmitted infections. One of it’s projects trains youth to give presentations in their community about topics like reproductive health and healthy relationships.

Cuties Coffee Shop

A lot of the LGBT socialization places are 18+ (clubs and bars), so it can be difficult to find friends as a LGBT teen. But this is a coffee shop and bakery that focuses on providing a meeting place for LGBT people in LA of all ages. They host frequent community events like meet-ups and free haircuts and clothing drives. Their social media also puts out a weekly video about upcoming LGBT events throughout LA.